OFF ROAD
KENDA FULL GAS SPRINT ENDURO SERIES
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 10-11, 2018
BLACKSHEAR, GEORGIA
P68
PHOTOGRAPHY DARRIN CHAPMAN
R
yan Sipes captured the overall win in
the opening round of the Kenda Full
Gas Sprint Enduro Series in Blacks-
hear, Georgia. The Rockstar Energy Coastal
Husqvarna rider got off to a fast start and
never relinquished the lead, although defend-
ing champ Steward Baylor kept him honest
over the two days of racing.
Sipes might've been a bit surprised by his
stellar performance since he hadn't ridden
much the few weeks leading up to the race,
as he and his wife Holly were anticipating the
arrival of their third child which came the Tues-
day before the race.
"I had no idea what to execpt coming in
here," said Sipes. "Since my wife was expect-
ing any time, I didn't get to ride the last few
weeks so I didn't know if I would come in here
and get smoked or win the thing."
As it turned out, he won the thing.
After two days of racing and 12 special tests,
Sipes topped Baylor by just under 21 seconds
to fire the first shot of the new season.
Sipes got off to a good start by winning the
first two tests on Saturday—a cross test and an
enduro test. He then proceeded to win all five
of the remaining cross tests, however, it was in
the enduro test where Sipes sealed the deal.
"At the end of day one, Stew was gaining
on me, and he was obviously doing it in the
enduro test," said Sipes. "So I walked that test
a total of four times trying to figure out where
he was gaining time on me and I think that
made the difference. Stew's lines are really
Ryan Sipes starts
fast and finishes fast in
Sprint Enduro opener
SIPES
